Living it up at the Royal Livingstone

Livingstone, Zambia
January 26, 2010

Edited to add pictures.

Today I made my way to the Royal Livingstone Hotel to go via a little motor boat to Livingstone Island, which sits right above the falls. My friend Martina (from the tour--she's wonderful!) joined me. The highlight of this tour is that you get to swim in a pool "Devil's Pool" right at the rim of the falls. Because the water is high, "Devil's Pool" is closed, but we were reassured that we could swim right above the falls in another spot. First, we were guided to a lookout spot right above the falls. I could not believe how close we were, and, of course, there were no guard rails. It's just you standing barefoot on a slippery rock with Victoria Falls just below you. One little slip and over the falls you would tumble! (In this shot, I have my camera under my poncho--that's what the funny lump is.)

Then, we hopped into a little natural pool just above the falls. A few more feet and the falls cascade over the edge. At first, I clung to the edge, then the guide gestured for me to swim to the center of the pool. As I did, I could feel the current pushing me towards the fall

s. The mighty Zambezi was right behind me and it would have been very easy for it to sweep me right over the edge! Later, I learned that people die every year doing this sort of thing. It was very cool but I would not do it again when the water is as high as it is. After our swim, Martina and I enjoyed Eggs Benedict and muffins served on fine china before we were escorted back to the Royal Livingstone Hotel.

Because I didn't have anything else planned, I lounged by the very nice pool (I love hotel pools!) all morning, and then, in the afternoon, I booked a helicopter ride over the falls. Sorry to tease, but I got the best pictures over the falls! It's not clear from below that the falls fall into a deep canyon, but they do, and you can see the spray for miles! It's also really cool to see how wide the falls are (1.7 km) too, and to see the Zim side of the falls in addition to the Zambia side.

In the afternoon there was High Tea with sparkling wine at the Royal, and I watched the sun set over the river. Then it was back to my backpackers! I decided that I'll return with J, and we'll stay at one of the swish riverside hotels.